Ammunition structure and launching device therefor



Aug 17, 3948. s. H. CLARKE 2,447,315

AMMUNITION STRUCTURE AND LAUNCHING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed July 10, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 (II/WW Aug. 17, 1948. s. H. CLARKE AMMUNITION STRUCTURE AND muncnme DEVICE THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1942 LII Aug, W, I948. CLARKE S. H. AMMUNITION STRUCTURE AND LAUNCHING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed July 10, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 17, 1948 i'iioN. STRUCTURE AND LAUN gCIfiINQ THEREFOR Samuelv Herbert Clarke, Baltimore, Md. Application July 10, 1942, Serial No. QQA8 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel form oi ainmunition structure and launching device there'- for; and'niore specificallyfit relate sfto an "im proyeidf or explosion-device: to at least we of "such explosion-devices"united with and"by leasttvvo fi eigibie connectors to form a unitary" that I st a 91 t efam u t on stru t r fs di e off and away from the ship, it will remain engage'gi with the h p. Wh e e for e o en ta oni ll the relative motion of the ater and ship efiect the mo ement' of one or 'both" explosionfgieyice's Afurthe r object of this invention is to provide a series of rigid'struts, eachstruthaving its'en'ds or 1 1s united with the respective flexectorsffoi the dual purpose of providing or p serving vvifcie spaces between the flexible onnec o s. 9 e n e ve l g Obieeie thferehetween, such as funnels, ventilating tubes, davitsf etc, and of providing 'abutine n'ts" that qne e w h t h r d bbif qe't mi slid 1g movement to the minimum.

: otiject of this invention is to provide simp d ezgedi'nglj practical means of quickly secu'ilng "the" struts to the flexible conneic or's which fnay be' either chain s, cables orparallel series qfvv'irs", etc, so the operations ofifnass prodiictio i "are facilitated tothe"rnaxiri1un1.

Another" object .of 'theinvention is to provide such 'nitaifyiong ammunition, vii, wherfnth'e fle' -bL connectors of the" explosion device'sinay or horizontal, but ais'fi'is"theeheneepruptttma ably trail its description; in connection provide each such unitary ammunition structure and launching iievi e' with mutuallycooperating means for assuring proper iauri'ching, viz;'1, i ib z= ing the ammunition device in its fully extended relation and'ivith the "relatively Iongponnectors, exi ilb sidhi dyiqes" and "ijfgid. struts" al l slibfitan tially brapproximaltelyHorizontal; so, not is th chance offhittmg the'tar et 'me xmiizedpr emmutn ion structure, when substttntianfyhevei ing object's "cino'r' (if the targefi'peis'sing between the flexible conn'ectors"me5 imizedwheh thez r plosiondevicesa "s't ut's"'aresiib's'tan 1y hon zontal to Another object is to provide different forms of explosion d tits' nd'ainetent fe ment launching devices fbfcoopiati'v use indifieiefitsizes and kindsof 'aifcraftahcl "for use against'ships' and other targets of differentsizes and kinds; fibrin:

a short ammunition structure when hitti ig' e; very" broad heamed ship; would probably "d'epiisit both exhlbs'ibfl'diiics o'n ae'ck'* nerethey wm it not be" as eiiective asif eir ioded'iieiow, 'at"or ne'ar the'water line of the ship s sides, orpois' 1 ,1: ,V t .nmt.

Other objects and important features are pointed out er im lied in thefo11owin'g detai1s"o'f drawingsin which:

Fi' gll 'is a top'pian view of a very si nple form of the unitary structure '01 deviee' that comprises at ieest twdexplosion devices" or smel -like "can or leaped er otherwise reduced to" a smairfrat tion of 'thefully' extended'length, so"'itcan"be carried in a; relatively" shortiaunching' "device within an airplane or blimp-carriage; also to the'cables; of a part'o'f the" cables that here stitute the flexible connectors whose ends e either ermanently arnetechablys cured b'pe ri heretrflahge's" 6':- the explosion-cler c Fig-.2 istt Trent-t6-rear'vertice1"sectional View of a'iorni of Iaiin'chirig device especiallydesig'iie'd for launching'thespool-like er'rpltss'ion' devic'esanq the 't'eljimc'ts' shown "in Fig; "1"," with o without additional t'tdjimctsi the sectionalparts b'etweefi the upper and" lower bnesjbeifig taken near" the rightsi'iie, the ta'p'efed'right eat; of the '{irawifig showing the rear ii'fdis'charge end of the laiirich ing device"the broken iinecircies being 'nf ierei'i to indicate th'peri'ph'eral positions of "the b'oiiiei's Y pidsienfq viee bhirid' trresnifi instead or against the sides" of the" ship; whereas,

and flanges of the explosion-devices whose tubular end-projections are seen in cross section.

Fig. 2A is a transverse vertical sectional view of a part of the structure at line 2A-2A of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2B is a transverse vertical sectional view of a part of the structure at line 2B2B of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2C is a fragmental detail of a simple and effective form of rigid strut having its ends clamped over and welded to flexible connectors of which are shown fragments composed of parallel wires, preferably of spring steel.

Fig. 2D is an edge view of one of the rigid struts such as shown in Fig. 2C, only the ends of the wires being indicated in the end-loops.

Fig. 2E is an edge-view of one of the struts such as in Fig. 2D, except not completed by the closing of the end-loops and welding thereof.

Fig. 2F shows a modification of one end portion of a strut having its extreme end in an aper-- tured guide-block, and a chain secured thereto and comprising one of the flexible connectors, in lieu of the cables and parallel wires shown in Figs. 1 and 2C.

Fig. 2G is an edge-view of the strut-fragment and a sectional view of the block and chain shown in Fig.2F, taken along the line 2G--2G of Fig. 2F.

Fig. 3 is mainly a left-side view of a modified form of the ammunition-structure in a modified form of launching device designed especially for cooperation, where the flexible connectors may be over 100 feet, or even over 150 feet or more, and where the explosion-devices are so long and heavy that carriages are provided as accessories for properly supporting the explosion devices and for properly launching the latter; the rear end of this view being in vertical section; both the Figs. 2 and 3 showing fuselage-floors in section under the launching devices. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing the lower-front and intermediate portions of a cage similar to that of Figs. 3 and 8, but slightly different, and containing a simple form of skidding carriage releasably secured therein in the proper position to support the foremost one of the explosion devices and to slide or skid rearward therewith when released and pulled as explained later herein.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a modified form of the ammunition structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the device of Fig. 5 collapsed, and the explosion devices seated on carriages similar to that shown in either Fig. 4, 8 or other appropriate form, the parts of flexible connectors between the struts being looped or bent inward, to approximately parallel relation to the rigid struts, to points on opposite sides of the median line of the structure, as when they are on a floor of a launching device that is provided with means to restrain these loops against considerable movement and to release them for proper movement at the proper time, at will of the attendant or user.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a launching cage that constitutes the main part of the launching device or combination shown in Fig. 3, the holes showing where other parts of the launching device are to be secured in their respective places.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the lines 8-8, 8-8 of Figs. 6 and 7; the front explosion device, on its carriage, beingseated on the floor of the cage of the launching device such as in Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the cage having some of its adiuncts in place, and some of them omitted, a part of the floor being broken away and in sec- 4 tion along the lines 9-9, 9--9 of Fig. 10, and the lower-rear part of the down-deflecting hood or guide being broken away.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line Ill-4i! of Fig. 9, and parts of the ammunition structure being shown in normal position and partly in section on line ill-l0.

Fig. 9A is a fragmental detail of a restraining device of which elements are shown in Figs. 9 and 11.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the form of carriage shown in Figs. 8 and 12.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view along the line l2-I2 of Fig. 11, a section of cage-floor being added, and the position of the supported explosion device being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation of one of the explosion devices such as the one included in Fig. 8, having one of the guiding and spacing blocks in the foreground.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view, partly in top-plan, illustrating a practical and effective means to prepare the time-controlled explosion producer for beginning its time-controlling operation, with its cooperating adjuncts.

Fig. 15 is an exploded top-plan view of the elements shown in Fig, 14, except the restraining key and end-guiding track.

Fig. 16 is a vertical front-to-rear sectional view of the rear end-portion of the launching device shown fully in Fig. 3, the movable abutments or hinged restraining elements being shown in their ineffective or down positions.

Fig. 1'7 is an elevation of one of the complemental blocks shown in Figs. 14 and 15, but disposed at a different angle of view.

Fig. 18 is a fragmental detail view illustrating several modified elements including a spring key that cooperates in securing links of a flexible connector to an end-portion of one of the struts that is of tubular construction (see Sheet 2).

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line I 9-20, of Fig. 18, viewed in direction of the upper arrow.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line I920 of Fig. 18, viewed in the direction of the lower arrow.

Fig. 21 is a fragmental sectional detail view of a modified form of guiding and spacing block in a guiding channel of the cage and having (in cross section) one of the rigid struts in position to be lowered into the seat therefor in the block.

The similar reference-numerals in these drawings correspond to similar parts in all the different views and in the following details of description; it being understood that herein, the word rear refers to the loading and discharging end of the cage and to the position of the respective elements in the cage.

The simplest form of this invention here shown in Fig. 1 is not the simplest-possible form that is useful; for certain parts can be eliminated without annulling its usefulness, as will be shown or implied hereinafter. Fig. 1 shows two explosion devices I each having spaced anchoring elements 2 to which two long flexible connectors 3 are secured either permanently or detachably, and such arrangement provides a large opening or enclosed space capable of receiving therein an upright or upstanding element of any target such as a ship or train; so this ammunition unit clings to the ship or train, even when moving along at a considerable speed, thereby cooperating with a time-controlled element of the explosion devices for assuring contiguity of the ammunition-unit av s. the lariheh h' v e'eh ht h flef j? e; eeh eetere he eh l eh' ed h n n hehtte ul the ename; ehr i h device from," the; launching device. Moreover the un he xp o ion e ic s heu e substan tially horizontal and. evenly balanced so they re ain fih q l Q lb t lt lll ibis/1m? ttah tha e. nclos d these e in; Phl sition to receive any upstanding object such as a mast, funnel, ventilating tube or davit on a in thatie the ta e thou eueh is ot strictly s n ia the e e ri elf trut ar P e to re thatt e, e iblee hzeh ma Spaced frgrp one anether, and especially where the target is m nna an utstan in a e l projects el m nt he areetme e ree i between the flexible elements and between the explosion devices even when the latter are. not horizontal. For the foregoing reasons, it isdesirable (but not trietlr ess nti l )1 ha he'eheh ee 2 be Widely PQQQ @391 ehrl e h 1. 0n site end-portions, forinstance, in peripheral outer an s o r 1 an 4e, r e a 6, 13, 1e and 15, andin these Figs. :15, the eggplosion deices arede i na ed a- The middle. flange 4 (Fig. 1). of each explosion devise is primarilyto keep the coils or windings of cable separated from one another on the spoolke explos on device 9 1 ieh the cables or other flexible connectors are to be wound in collapsing he ammunition lQ EWQ: $9- t e e r W be capable qf occupying the comparatively small ace n the le hehihe; d ce as s shown i 2-. It, hellie he uhder te d ha each end of each explosion device; I and la, is provided th posi ely r ieet h rae h structures that include respectively a tubular bearing 5 d a eearihgehl th t he a ter h i a r 1 (Figs. 13 and 1 that receives the tubular bearing 5 either tightly and non=rotatably, or with any desired degreeof looseness and ease of rotation; or in lieu of the blocks s complemental clocks to, having eomplernental semi-cylindrical bearingseats 1 (Figs, 15 and 17) may be used for sake of greater convenience in assembling while loading the ammunition-device into the launching device; However, while wooden blocks have thus farbeen contemplated and referred to, blocks 6) and Sr of metal (Figs. 2 2A, 2B) are preferable in some ses eeheeie wh e h nt ex e e e is rotatably supported on its tubular bearings 5 at serve axl s h he eeri e l a d wh r t is desi e h i r n 6 eeion. device. e riee n llv retarded or T5 h ea ferh F s: 3 and ai e h att re Kate-tw nti h? m eltaerh l tph ae of e ble ls tf eh the hb seat track n hi it is seated to slide when forced to do so by We t and momentum of the rear explosion device and teehed f e l ehhe e s vta 3 d/ (I' igs. l, 2Q, 2F, 3, 5, 6, 3, 10, 18); and here it mi s be in es ed het i the ri tio I hatte s hehave wh el I? i hs ed hete h t e ht s. -Qhhd 9; e negli ent- 9: eera the ont expl sion de se in Pla e hil he fl r le.

rector a b in hwqhh h trtthl v hi e e t s e e ee f ee R i T-9 9 vetien t e eari s I i r l hi v h wi l he fiesih e eq heqtqrs ov rc m 1 i eti e a he hear n s 1. 9. 1. e e-ear a, ieh reetreih h de i e as h. he A e,

t the. p ihe de ht. bei q iih ii; t st h p to dete s h i the. ree e haw et-bl ks; hste do h the a e h i er escribe i s-a 4; 81 3. 121- Re er n eeiht F e 2 earth- .3,, ;t.- esa the bloclgs or are of inverted channel heamand normally seated on the rear end-portions ofthe'traclnelements l2 of the cage that comprises the main frame-work of this form of launching device includes front uprights [3 that form abutments against which the front ends ofthe blocks 8; normally abut whiletheir. rear ends normally abut against the front ,ends of'theblock s 61' whose reaig ends normally abut against moyffl able abntrnents it; so it is seen that here is an interengagement of these abutments and blo'glgs' that normally prevents forward or rearward movement of these explosion devices in the cage, while the track-elements 12 and [2 prevent up; Ward or downward or other movement thereof in case the. airplane is turned ever in manoeuvring while in battle. Here, it should be understoodthat all the elements mentioned in this paragraph are duplicated on the left side of the cage, which, left side is omitted from this sectional view, and that the right and left sides are. connected by, cross-beams i5 and preferably connected by a floor it} that has a down-curved rear end that cooperates withthe open doors or. abutments i l. to guide the ammunition device downward and; rearward when being launched through the opening under the deflecting hood I'l this opening being normally closed by a yielding. hinged sec,- tion it or other appropriate form of closure of the fuselage floor to which the launching device is secured by the means shown or by any appro: priate means. The foremost explosion device; may have the major parts of the flexible cont; nectors Wound thereon either before or after being put into the cage of the launching; device, for there are ample openings in the top of the; cage for arms of the users to work through while their hands grasp and turn one ormore ot'the peripheral flanges d; but Where the explosive devices are too heavy to be handled manually, any appropriate means may be provided for lifting them, one at a time, through the loading and launching opening under the hood H, and other appropriate means may be. provided for turni ng. them so as to wind their respective portions. of flexible connectors thereon.

For each abutment Hi there is a securing and releasing device that includes a rock-shaft l5 having a button 20 on its rear end and normally engaged with the abutment I4 so as to hold it against the rear end of the adjacent guideengaging block. Each rock-shaft is journaled in the cage of the launching device andhas a collar. 2! that prevents forward movement of the rockshaft and. button and also serves as a hub f or a handlerlever 22 having a link 23 pivoted thereto and provided with a pivot 24 that is connectable to a similar lever or arm (not shown) for effecting simultaneous operation of all the elements 'lQarid 29 so as to simultaneously release bothabutlnnts by a single swing of either or both of the handlelevers 22. If, when the abutments I l are released, the airplane tips its front end upward or suddenly increases its speed while flying level, the Wheeled blocks will roll off the guides or tracks l2 and gravitate to the yielding closure I8 which will thereby be forced open so the rearmost explosion device; by its weight and momentum, will pull the flexible connectors and cause them to unwind from the foremost explosion device before the latter starts toward the rear of the cage, because it is frictionally seated, as previously explained; but when the flexible connectors are fully extended and taut, they will pull the foremost explosion unit from the cage, and as it is then going at considerable velocity, it will be likely to strike the down-curved deflector I! and thereby cooperate with gravitation for expediting its downward speed, so it will quite or nearly arrive at the same level as the first-launched explosion device and so the common plane of the flexible connectors and axes of the explosion devices will be in or approximately in horizontal relation when the ammunition device arrives at its target, and will accomplish its purpose as previously specified.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 21, and especially now to Figs. 3, 7 and 16, it will be seen that the launching device is relatively long and wide, its internal length several times its internal height or depth, and its internal width being at least twice its internal height or depth, such proportions being of importance for distributing the weight along and across the floor of the aircraftfuselage, and especially where very long and heavy explosion devices are to be carried therein. Moreover, where the explosion devices are very heavy and long, it may not be very practical to wind the very long and heavy flexible connectors thereon and thus increase their respective weights; also, for increasing the factor of safety in carrying very heavy explosive devices and their guiding adjuncts, it is desirable to provide carriages, one for each explosion device, seated on the floor lfia. of the cage, as best shown at ID in Fig. 4 and lfla in Fig. 8; but not depending entirely on the floor and carriages for holding the explosion devices against untimely and detrimental movements, their relatively narrow intermediate peripheral rims or flanges 4a have their upper portions in and adapted to slide along inverted channel-beams 26 of the cage when being launched, but secured thereby against movement laterally of said channel beams. Moreover, the carriages are each provided with chock-blocks Illaa spaced from one another to receive and normally contain the lower parts of said intermediate flanges between them; whereby apparently sufficient safeguards are provided. However, additional safeguards are provided as follows:

Each carriage is provided with guide engaging elements lllb or lflab (Figs. 4, 8 and 11) that are slidably seated for launching movement in frontto-rear direction along guidin tracks I2a (Figs. 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16). A pair of guide-tracks 25 are secured, as parts of the cage, above the parallel to the guide-tracks 12a which are also integral parts of the cage; and it may be well to state here that all parts of the cage may be secured together by welding, riveting or other appropriate means, and that the hood l1 may be considered a permanent or removable adjunct of the cage. The tubular end projections (Figs. 5, 3, 13, 14, 15) and their attached or adjoining guide-blocks 6, together with the several outwardly converging arms ice of the respective ends of the explosion devices, constitute the guide-engaging projections or extensions of the explosion devices that engage with the guide-tracks 25 (or 25a in Fig. 4) and are slidable therealong when launching the ammunition device. Therefore, it is seen that all the elements l2a, 16a and 25 or 25a mutually contribute to the support and guidance of the explosion devices and their opposite end extensions or projections; also, that the channel-beams 26 cooperate in the guiding and in the supporting when the airplane is banking.

In addition to the mutual cooperations described in the foregoing, the following cooperation of the elements laa, 5, 6 and 25 is best understood in connection with Fig. 14 which shows only one of the two such structural combinations for each one of the explosion devices; for here it is seen that a practical and convenient means is provided to effect operation of one of the explosion producing devices 21 (see also Fig. 8). These explosion producing devices are essentially time-controlled and may be of any appropriate type or types, for instance, such as has attached thereto a restraining element 28 normally snugly but removably fitted in an opening of the explosion producer in proper relation to prevent operation of a clock-works that automatically begins to operate on removal of the restrainer 28, or is set in operation by such removal, and which causes the explosion in a predetermined time after its release from the restrainer; or removal of the restrainer may expose the chemical contents of the explosion producer to the entrance and action of water, so when one of these ammunition devices lies across a ship and has one or both of its explosion devices trailing in the water, a soluble or porous plug in the explosion producer acts as a time-controlled means to admit an effective amount of water within a few seconds, allowing the necessary time for the explosion device to move against the ships hull or bottom where its explosion will produce the most destructive effect on the ship. To prevent untimely removal or displacement of the restrainer 28, two of the arms or struts laa are apertured to receive a tapered key 29 against the outer end of the restrainer 28, and such key should not be removed until the ammunition device is secured in the cage, for a reason now to be made apparent.

For removing the restrainer 28, a power-applying means is provided, viz., a grapple 30 that may well be of the construction shown in Fig. 14, being a plunger having a head 30a at its outer end and having spring-fingers 30b formed with notched inner ends and adapted to be forced over a conical outer end or head of the restrainer 28 for latching engagement with the latter. A helical compression spring 3| has one end seated on a shoulder or seat at the inner end of the tubular element 5 and has its outer end seated and compressed against the head 30a so it is adapted to automatically push the grapple outward to an extended position where it is arrested by its shoulders 30c abutting against the inner side of the bearing 10, viz., the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In assembling. prior to loading in the launcher, the elements 28 and 29 are first placed in their normal position, as in Fig. 14; next, the spring is put in the tubular element 5; and next, the inner end of the grapple is put through the tubular element, spring and bearing 10; then pressed inward against resistance of the spring 3| until its notched spring-fingers 30b snap into latching engagement with the conical head of vices, their carriages and the struts are prevented from shifting in the cage, it will be explained how the flexible connectors are flexed, secured in their flexed positions (Fig. 6) and released from their securing means at the same instant the movable abutments are released from their securing means or buttons, as follows:

In Fig. 6, it is seen that each of the flexible connectors 3b has its outer bend or loop at 3d where secured to the respective struts, and has its inner bend adjacent to the median line of the assembly; so, when such assembly is in the launching cage (Figs. 3, '7, 9, 10) such inner bends 3i lie on the floor Ilia, across the respective slots lBb where they are properly positioned to be engaged by books 35 (Figs. 3, 9, 10) that are secured on rock-shafts 35 and 31. These rock-shafts are journaled in appropriate bearing-elements 38, 39 and 43 (Figs. 4, 8, 9, 10) and are interconnected by spur-gears 4| and 42 interengaged and mounted respectively on the rock-shafts. A lever 43 is secured on the front end of rock-shaft 36, and adapted to be manually operated, viz., its upper end moved first from between two studs or stops 44, thence through about 90 degrees to the stud or stop 45, and such movement causes the hooks 35 to move outward and downward to positions below the floor from their normal eifective positions shown where they engage with the inner bends of the flexible connectors 3b and are secured in such engagement by cooperation of the lever 43 and its keeper or studs 44; but when said hooks are moved out of engagement with each flexible connector, it is free to straighten out as the launching proceeds. A stud-handle 43a, is preferably provided on the lever 43 to reduce the swing of the operator's hand and to expedite the operation of unhooking the flexible connectors and in unlatching or unbuttoning the abutments I40, and Nb; for the lever 43, in cooperation with the elements 36, 31, 4|, 42 and other elements (presently described), releases the abutments Ma and [4b simultaneously with the release of the flexible connectors, as follows:

Arms 45 and 4'! are secured respectively on the rock-shafts 36 and 31 and pivotally connected to links 48 which are pivotally connected to bell-cranks 49 and 55 that are journaled in bearings on brackets 52 which are united with and project laterally from the floor lBa. Suitable upper and lower bearings 53 (Figs. 3) are provided on opposite sides of the cage, where holes for bolts or rivets are shown at 54 (Fig. '7), and four restraining elements 55 are journaled in the respective bearings. Each of these restraining elements includes a latch or button 56 and an arm 51. Two links 58 are provided on opposite sides of the cage, each of these links is pivotally connected to an arm of one of the bell-cranks 55 and to two arms 51 thereabove. Though only one of the movable abutments [4a is shown in Fig. 9, and only one abutment Mb is shown in Fig. 10, it is to be understood that there is one abutment I41; and one abutment I4b hinged in each pair of hinge-elements l 40, and that each latch or button 56 is normally engaged with one of such movable abutments; such normal position being shown in Figs. 3, 9 and 10, and out of the normal position in Fig. 16; this latter view also showing the abutments Ma and MD in their out-of-the-way positions, so the launching can take place.

Referring again to Fig. 4, it is seen that two buttons or latches 59 are secured on the respective rock-shafts 36 and 31 and are normally 12 erect and against the rear side of the carriage ill, the front side of the carriage being against cageposts I3a; but when the rock-shafts 35 and 31 are rotated for releasing the abutments Ma and {4b, they simultaneously turn the buttons or abutments 59 to positions below the floor 16a and thereby release the rear carriage at same time the front carriage, front explosion-device and flexible connectors are released; and all such releasing is eifected by a single swing of the lever 43 from studs 44 to stud 45; but all parts of the ammunition device do not begin to launch simultaneously, because of the retarding or restraining means applied to the front carriage; so, when released, the rear carriage and its superposed explosion-device first pass out rearward from under the hood H, and its weight and the force of air against it causes it to quickly stretch or straighten the flexible connectors, and when straightened, the latter will pull the front carriage rearward and out from the launching device, so the fully extended ammunition device will descend in an approximately horizontal position toward its target.

As a supplement to the abutments 59, or in lieu thereof, other forms of abutments may be provided, for instance, the keys 32 (Fig. 4), and it is quite Within the scope of this invention to connect them to the lever 43 or to parts operated by the latter, so these keys will be removed when the other abutments are removed from their normal positions.

The several modifications of this invention, as here shown, do not exhaust the inventive ideas that could be illustrated and described; but they are evidence that numerous changes can be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

I claim the following as my invention:

1. A unitary ammunition structure that is adapted to be carried by and launched from a launching device and includes at least two widely spaced explosion devices each having anchorages that are spaced a considerable distance from one another, at least two long flexible connectors between said explosion devices and substantially parallel to one another, one of said flexible connectors having its opposite end-portions normally secured to an anchorage of each of said explosion-devices, a second one of said flexible connectors having its opposite end portions normally secured to two of said anchorages other than the anchorages to which the first said one of the flexible connectors is secured, and at least one rigid strut between and spaced from said explosion devices and having its opposite end-portions respectively secured to intermediate parts of said flexible connectors.

2. The structure defined by claim 1, and a series of rigid struts having end-portions secured to said flexible connectors and disposed at rightangles to the latter and in spaced parallel relation to the first said strut, the distance between adjacent struts being substantially the same as the distance between the flexible connectors, whereby, a series of substantially rectangular openings are provided between the explosiondevices, for a purpose specified.

3. The structure defined by claim 1, and the opposite end-portions of said rigid strut being extended slightly outward from said flexible connectors in a proper relation to engage with supporting elements in said launching device.

4. The structure defined by claim 1, and the opposite end portions of said rigid strut being lei abutment and said connector-engaging means to proper positions for permitting said unitary structure to pass from said cage.

11. In combination with a launching device that includes a cage having opposite sides provided with parallel guides that are substantially horizontal, guide-engaging structures normally secured in engagement with said guides by means operable to release the guide-engaging structures, a unitary ammunition structure that includes explosion devices that are connected by long substantially parallel flexible connectors and have opposite ends engaged with and adapted to be guided by said guide-engaging structures along said guides when released for loading and launching the unitary ammunition structures, at least one of said explosion devices having one of its ends tubular and provided with an automatic power-applying device extending therethru and normally in contact with one of said guides and thereby restrained against operation and which is releasable for beginning operation when this explosion-device leaves the cage when launch-- ing it, this explosion device being provided with a time-controlled explosion producer and with means to detain the explosion producer against operation, the last-said means being normally ongaged with said power-applying device for cooperation in releasing control of the time-controlled explosion producer so as to permit the latter to operate after it is launched from said cage.

12. In combination with a launching device that includes substantially horizontal parallel guides, guide-engaging structures normally engaged with said guides and releasable therefrom and adapted to slide therealong to be launched therefrom, an explosion device that has opposite axles normally engaged with said guide-engaging structures and has one of said axles tubular and provided with a power-applying device extending therethru and normally against one of said guides and thereby restrained against operation, said explosion device being provided with a time-controlled explosion producer and with means to detain the explosion-producer against operation, the last said means being normally engaged with said power-applying device for cooperation in releasing control of the explosion producer so as to permit the latter to operate after it is launched from the launching device.

13. A unitary ammunition structure that includes explosion devices secured to one another by substantially parallel flexible connectors which are spaced a considerable distance from one another, at least one of these explosion devices being spool-like and having an annular flange around its middle part and adapted to have at least a portion of each of the flexible connectors wound therearound respectively at opposite sides of said annular flange so as to collapse or shorten this ammunition structure so as to adapt it to be received into a relatively short launching cage, this spool-like explosion device being provided with oppositely extending journals on which it is adapted to be supported by supporting and guiding or launching tracks of the launching cage and on which it is adapted to be rotated for being unwound for expanding the collapsed ammunition structure. v

14. The ammunition structure defined by claim 13, in combination with a launching cage that includes launching tracks on which the said oppositely extending journals are supported and adapted to be moved to the launching position. at least one of said. journals being tubular and having a power-applying deviceextendlng substantially therethru and normallyagainst one of said launching tracks by WhiCh'jlt--'1S detained against operation, this spool-like explosion-device'being provided with a time-controlled explosion producer and with detaining means for the latter, said power-applying device being normally engaged with said detaining means and adapted to render the latter ineffective when the power-applying device is moved out of contact with the launching track in the operation of launching the ammunition structure from the launching track.

SAMUEL HERBERT CLARKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 289,492 Armistead Dec. 4, 1883 1,171.152 Steinmetz Feb. 8, 1916 1,173,522 Jenkins Feb. 29, 1916 1,187,981 Doucette June 20, 1916 1,222,051 Wales Apr. 10, 1917 1,304,857 Davis May 27, 1919 1,320,991 Saal Nov. 4, 1919 1,639,075 Bold Aug. 16, 1927 2,137,056 Liegeois Nov. 15, 1938 2,274 264 Bickel Feb. 24, 1942 2,283,065 Hunter May 12, 1942 2,299,327 Johnson Oct. 20, 1942 2,348,240 Brown May 9, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 440,497 France May 4, 1912 529,623 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1940 773,866 France Sept. 10, 1934 

